Murkowski EPA Block Gets Democratic Support

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Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski has gained co-sponsorship for her effort to block the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide from at least one Democrat, her office confirmed Friday evening.

Spokesman Robert Dillon said that one Democrat has signed on, though he was not able to confirm the identity of the Democrat. There are, however, plenty of ideas about who this Democratic cosponsor may be. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Jim Webb (D-Va.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), all previously on record voicing concerns about carbon regulation, have been floated as possible sign-ons. We’ve put in inquiries at all those offices and will update as more information becomes available.

Sources on the Hill indicate that there may yet be additional Democratic co-sponsors for her measure, which she may offer as early as next week.

Dillon said that his office has approached 21 Democrats about possible co-sponsorship, and Murkowski herself had plans this week to meet with a short-list of possible supporters. Part of those discussions, he said, were to discern whether an amendment to the debt ceiling bill or a resolution of disapproval had more support among her colleagues.

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Kate Sheppard was a staff reporter in Mother Jones' Washington bureau from 2009 to 2013. She is now a senior reporter and the energy and environment editor at The Huffington Post. She can be reached by email at kate (dot) sheppard (at) huffingtonpost (dot) com and you can follow her on Twitter @kate_sheppard.